Pregnancy Resources

Here are some helpful organizations and websites on pregnancy:

American College of Nurse-Midwives – The American College of Nurse-Midwives is the oldest women’s healthcare organization in the U.S. Its 'Our Moment of Truth' website offers a wealth of good pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding-related information.

Baby Gear Shopping List – Prepare for your baby’s arrival with this helpful list of the basic items you’ll need (and some suggested extras).

Backaches During Pregnancy – The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website has many helpful FAQs on the causes of backache during pregnancy and what you can do about it.

Brain Development – The national office of Head Start offers meaningful information about the support infants and young children need to promote important early brain development and the relationships that support intellectual and social-emotional growth.

Childbirth Connection – The Childbirth Connection (formerly the Maternity Center Association) is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to improving maternity care in the U.S. since 1918.

Choosing a Pediatrician – The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers online patient education on how to choose a pediatrician for your baby.

CIMS Coalition – CIMS is a coalition of individuals and organizations concerned with the care and well-being of mothers, babies and families. The organization’s mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs.

Dancing Thru Pregnancy – The Dancing Thru Pregnancy website offers information and guidelines on exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Depression in Pregnancy – The March of Dimes looks at signs and symptoms of depression and what you can do about it.

Doulas of North America – Information and support are available from the Doulas of North America, an international association of doulas who are trained to provide emotional, physical and educational support to women and their families during childbirth and after.

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy – A safe diet plays a huge role in a healthy pregnancy. Foodsafety.gov, a website provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers a definitive guide to foods that pregnant women should avoid to prevent potential food-borne illness.

Healthy Weight Gain in Pregnancy – Information on weight gain during pregnancy is available from the March of Dimes, a nonprofit agency dedicated to improving infant health by preventing birth defects.

Infant & Newborn Nutrition – Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. Library of Medicine, provides numerous links to articles on breast milk vs. formula, infant feeding stages and infant nutrition.

La Leche League – Dedicated to the support and encouragement of breastfeeding, La Leche League also offers contacts for locating a local support group or leader.

Labor and Delivery – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health offers helpful, reassuring information about what to expect during your labor and delivery.

Labor Induction – Find out what you need to know about induced labor with this comprehensive information from the March of Dimes.

Life’s Greatest Miracle – What’s happening throughout your pregnancy? Find out by watching the Nova series, Life’s Greatest Miracle.

March of Dimes – At the March of Dimes’ information-rich website, you’ll find information, tools and resources helpful during pregnancy and as you care for your newborn.

Nutrition During Pregnancy – The American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists answers common questions about healthy eating during pregnancy.

Packing for the Hospital – Is your bag packed yet? Use the handy hospital packing list from the American Pregnancy Association to make sure you have what you’ll need and won’t be lugging along a lot of unnecessary stuff.

A Partner’s Guide to Pregnancy – The American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers useful information and helpful advice for expectant dads.

Patient Education Pamphlets – Though these pamphlets have prices associated with them, the American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) will mail you up to 5 patient education pamphlets on the pregnancy topics of your choice. Email your request to the ACOG Resource Center.

Pregnancy After Age 35 – Pregnant women over age 35 can find information on health risks, required prenatal tests and tips for a successful pregnancy and healthy baby from the March of Dimes website.

Pregnancy and Childbirth: Month to Month – Your healthcare provider may have this guide available for patients, but you can also order it online for a fee through the American College Of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). It’s a comprehensive guide to pregnancy and childbirth from the most trusted resource in obstetrics.

Pregnancy and Newborn Care – KidsHealth, a website for families from the Nemours Foundation, offers comprehensive information on pregnancy and newborn care.

Pregnancy Calendar – Descriptions of what’s going on with you and your baby during each week of your pregnancy, presented by the March of Dimes.

Premature Infants – Read a variety of articles about premature infants on HealthChildren.org, created by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Safety Around Pets During Pregnancy – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading federal agency for protecting the health and safety of Americans, offers information on toxoplasmosis infection, caused by a parasite passed in cat feces, and its risks for pregnant women.

Safe Food in Pregnancy – The FDA offers a wide range of helpful information on food preparation, eating and safe food storage for pregnant women.

Sidelines – The Sidelines website provides nationwide support for women and their families experiencing complicated or high-risk pregnancies.

Signs of Labor – This comprehensive women’s health website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Women’s Health takes you through the signs of labor, false labor, stages of labor and managing labor pain.

Stages of Labor and Birth – Get the lowdown on the stages of labor and delivery from MedlinePlus, an information service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

Stages of Pregnancy – Information about all three trimesters in pregnancy is available from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health.

When You’re Past Your Due Date – The American Academy of Family Physicians, which was founded to promote and maintain high-quality standards for family doctors, offers useful information on what to expect if you are past your due date.

WomensHealth.gov – This U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Women’s Health website is a comprehensive resource for women, featuring a wide array of topics, including pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Your Birth Plan – The March of Dimes offers good information on what a birth plan is, what it can include and how you can use it.

Your Pregnancy and Childbirth: Month to Month – Your healthcare provider may have this guide available for patients, but you can also order it online for a fee through the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. It’s a comprehensive guide to pregnancy and childbirth from the most trusted resource in obstetrics.

Resources for Pregnancy Loss

If you’ve had a pregnancy loss, be sure to seek out resources and organizations to help you during this very difficult time. Getting support from people who’ve been through what you’re experiencing can make a world of difference. Here are a few places to start:

Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support – This community provides information and support to those who’ve experienced the death of a baby early in pregnancy, in a stillbirth or during infancy. It offers bedside companions, phone counseling, support groups, downloadable resource packets and private online communities, memorial events, caregiver training and more.
CLIMB (Center for Loss in Multiple Birth) – This website provides information, support and resources about pregnancy or infant loss to families in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond who have experienced the loss of one or more twins or multiples at any time from conception through birth and early childhood.
American Pregnancy Association – This organization’s website has a good collection of articles, information and resources dedicated to miscarriage, stillbirth, pregnancy loss and the grieving process.

This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.